Bottle capping machine



June 10, 1952 G. E. FORD BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Shei 1 Filed 001.. 22, 1949 1 I warrior 1 G50 FFREI EwARTFoRD- Attorneys June 10, 1952 G. E. FORD 2,599,820

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1949 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorneys June 10, 1952 v G. E. FORD 2,599,820

' BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed'Oot. 22, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I nventor GEOFFREY EWART 5R0 Attorneys '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 22, 1949 as i sea

- nventor 6 E0 FFREI wmrfino A tlorneys Patented June 10, 1952 BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Geoffrey Ewart Ford, Bow, London, England, as-

signor to Fords (Finsbury) Limited, London, England, a British company Application October 22, 1949, Serial No. 122,968 In Great Britain June 12, 1948 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a, machine for capping bottles, such as milk bottles, and more particularly to machines of the type which punch caps from a sheet of metal foil, such as aluminium foil, which is fed through the machine, applies a punched cap to the mouth of the bottle, and finally crimps the cap on to the bottle by pressing the edge of the cap into a groove around the cut side of the bottle mouth.

The present invention has for its object to provide a machine of this type which is of simple construction and which is particularly suitable for hand operation, in which the operation of the different parts of the machine is so timed that simultaneously with th crimping of a cap on one bottle a further cap is punched from the metal strip and delivered to the station where it is to be applied to the mouth of another bottle. A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle capping machine of the type referred to applying a formed cap to a bottle. According to this feature the formed caps are fed, for example by gravity, to 'a holder in which the caps are positioned standing edgewise in a substantially vertical position. Upon a bottle being passed through the machine beneath the holder, the neck to fit over the mouthof the bottle, the plate urging the cap on to the mouth of the bottle as the bottle is fed therepast.

A further feature of the invention consists in the cap-closing device for closing caps of thin 1 sheet metal or other suitable material on to the having improved means for feeding the metal l strip through the machine whereby the foil may, if desired, be fed through the machine without actuating the punch, whereby the initial loading of the machine is facilitated. A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for applying the punched caps to the mouth of the bottle. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cap-closing device for closing caps of thin sheet metal or other suitable material into the groove around the mouth of the bottle.

The invention consists in a bottle capping machine comprising a punch and die for blanking and forming a cap from a strip of metal foil which is fed through the machine upon the reverse or opening movement of the die, wherein the mechanism is operated by a reciprocating shaft, which is preferably operated by a hand lever, which is coupled to the strip advancing drive wheel through a latching device which moves freely with respect to the wheel during the forward movement of the shaft and latches with an abutment thereon before the dies are closed, the latch driving the abutment and the wheel during the return movement of the shaft, whereby the foil can be fed through the machine without closing the dies.

Preferably the wheel is coupled to two pairs of feed rollers for the foil which are arranged on opposite-sides of the die, the pair of feed rollers on the outlet side of the die being driven at a faster rate than the pair of feed rollers on the inlet side whereby the foil is maintained tensioned between the dies.

The invention also consists in the means for bottle or like container by pressing the skirt of the cap into a groove around the outside of the mouth of the bottle. The invention therefore also consists in a cap-closing device of the type comprising a relatively thick disc or ring of rubber or like flexible material having a recess in its undersurface which is adapted to fit over a cap fitted to the mouth of a bottle, the pressing of the closing device against the cap causing the closing edge of the rubber surrounding the recess to close inwardly and'press the skirt of the cap into the groove in the bottle, wherein there is also provided a movable pressure plate or member which is adapted to engage with the back of the rubber closing disc or ring and serves for urging the centre of the latter downwardly in order to expand the closing edge of the recess in the rubber disc or ring and thus facilitating the fitting of the recess over the cap positioned on the mouth of the bottle. Upon pressing the closing device on to the bottle, the pressure plate moves rearwardly with the rubber disc or ring and allows the closing edge to press the skirt of the cap into the groove around the mouth of the bottle.

Preferably the pressure plate is spring-pressed downwardly so that the closing disc or ring is normally urged to its outer and open position, pressure of the closing device upon the'bottle also moving the pressure plate upwards against the action of the spring.

The pressure plate conveniently comprises a circular plate carried at the end of a rod which is slideable in the handle of the closing device or the stem by which it is attached to the moveable member of a bottle capping machine,- the spring being fitted between the upper surface of the pressure plate and the material of the handle or stem surrounding the aperture in which the rod moves.

In order that the invention maybe more. clear! 3 1y understood,1an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a bottle capping machine according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the machine looking from the side opposite to that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a sectional plan view along the line A-A in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a vertical section along" the line B-B in Fig. 3 with the cap-closing device in position to receive a bottle; l I V Fig. 5 is a scrap section of the closing device shown in'Fig. 4 but with the closing device advanced towards the cap upon a bottle; I V v Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but with the closing head fully advanced to the position in which it crimps the cap upon the bottle; Fig.7 is a scrap section along the line C-C in Fig. 3;

Fig; 8 is a sectional plan through the cap applying device along the line D-D in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the operating mechanism of the machine is carried by a pillar I mounted on a base 2 provided with a groove or guide-way 3 for guiding. the bottles 4 tobe capped duringtheir passage beneath the capapplying'device generally indicated by 5, and the cap closing device generally indicated by 6. The mechanism is carried by a box-like frame 1, between opposite side walls 1a, lb of which extends an operating shaft 8 carrying an operating hand lever 9, a spring I being provided for urging the lever 9 to its normal resting position in which it is substantially upright. Secured on the shaft 8 is'a boss I carrying an arm l2 which is pivotally connected by a bolt l3 to a forked link M, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a platen l carrying the die |6. The platen carries bushes slideable on guide bars |8 carried. from the front wall 10 of the boxframe so that, when the shaft 8 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 4) by pulling: down the lever 9. the toggle action of the member l2 and I4 moves the die It to-, wardsthe punch |9 which is carried by the front wall 10.

Projecting through a bushing 20 secured. in the bottom of an hollow part 1e projecting from the bottom wall 1d of the boxlike frame and so that it is guided to move ina vertical direction, is the cap-closing device '6. This cap-closing device comprises a. pair of annular clamping mem-, bers 2|, 22 forming a holder for the rubber closing ring 23 which is moulded with the crosssection shown in Figure 4 with an annular recess 24 on its lower face which is adapted to fit over the capped mouth of a bottle. The two clamping members 2 I, 22 are screw-threaded together, the peripheral edge of the rubber closing ring 23 being clamped therebetween when the members 2| and 22 are screwed together. The

upper member 22 is hollowed to allow clearance for the movement of the closing ring 23. The

stem 25, which is slideable in the bush 2|], is

stem 25. The stem 25 is provided with ahollowv passage 29 extending from its upper end into which is fitted a member SD carrying a roller 3| which is arranged in alignment with and adapted to be engagedby-the cam 32 carried by the. bush The position of the roller 3| may be adto grip the foil 4| therebetween. The surfaces.

4 justed by the stud 34 screwed into the bottom surface of the member 30 and adapted to bear against the end of the passage 29. Rotation of the member 30 within the passage 29 may be prevented by making these two pars of irregular cross-section, or in any other convenient manner.

The cap-closing device is also provided with a pressure plate 35 which is conveniently of circular form and slightly larger in diameter than the aperture 36 in the centre of the closing ring 23 but of a smaller diameter than the closing recess 24 on theundersurface of the ring 23. Secured to and extended upwardly from the back of the pressure plate 35 is a rod 31 slideable in a hole 38 formed in the stem 25 and connecting with the passage 29, the upper end of the rod 31 being provided with a head 39 or other means for preventing it from passing through the hole 38. Surrounding the rod 3-! between the pressure plate 35 and the stem '25 is a spring 40 which normally urges the pressure plate into the position shown in Fig. 4 with the closing ring 23 pressed downwardly sothat the side walls of the closing recess 2.4 are inclined outwardly and thereby enlarged to receive the top of a bottle with the metal cap positioned thereon; Thev lower end of the stud 34 is recessed to permit vertical movement of the head 3-9 therein, The

operation of the cap-closing device 6 will; be described later. 1

The coil of aluminium, foil 4| from which the.

punching. It is then fedover another idler roller 49 to a pair of feed rollers 50, 5|; which serve for feeding the foil into the machine. Theroller-58 extends between and is rotatable in bearingscarried in the side walls 1a, 1b of the frame, whilst the roller 5| is carried in bearings 52 supported by studs 53 slideable in bushes 54 carried by the front wall 10. The ends of these studs 53 project outside the. front. wall Ia-and are spring-pressed inwardly. by the spring 54 bearing upon the centre of the lever '55 which bridges the endsof studs In this way the.

53 outside the front Wall To. roller 5| is spring-pressed towards the roller- 50 of one or both of the rollers 50, 5|-may be roughened. r

The two rollers 50, 5| are geared together by pinions 56, 51 carried by'the rollers 50, 5| re.- spectively at one end thereof. also provided at, its otherend with a pinion58 which is geared to a large diameter toothed wheel 59 mounted for rotation about a spindle 5E! carried by the side wall 11). This toothed wheel 59 is provided with a series of radial grooves.

the arm 62 and urged by a leaf spring'65towards the wheel 59 so that the latch'63' is adapted to engage with the radial grooves'fil on'the inner surface of the wheel 59. The arm 62carrying the latch is coupled through a lever 66- to a lever being u ed. y a sp ing. 6H9. a; f rw r position (as shown in Figf'i) where the latch 63 he roller 50. is;

ing with the lever 61 is a push member 69a which is carried by the member 69 fast with the shaft 8. The member 69a engages with the lever 61 and pushes it, and the arm 62 and latch 63 coupled thereto, backwards during the reverse or backward movement of the operating handle 9, thereby, moving latch 63 and driving thewheel 59 locked thereto to rotate the feed rollers 50, 5| to feed the foil 4| by the correct distance for forming another cap. Upon forward movement of the operating handle 9 the push member 69a allows the lever 61 to move forwards under the action of the spring 68 so that the latch 63 is advanced to the position shown in Fig. 7 to engage with the next radialgroove 6|, in which position it stops, for example by lever 66 wedging against the bushing of the arm 62 as shown in Fig. 7. If the spring 68 should fail to move the lever 61, the latter is positively moved by the projection 69b on the member 69 when the handle 9 is pulled forwards. In this position the die I6 and punch I9 are not closed, but further forward movement of the operating handle 9 can be effected without moving the latch 63, this further forward movement completing closure of the die and punch to punch and form a closing cap from the foil. Reverse movement of the handle 9 opens the die and punch and the push member 69a moves the latch 63 and the wheel 59 to drive the feed rollers 50, 5| and advance the metal foil through the machine. Reverse movement of the handle 9 is limited by the arm I2 engaging against an adjustable stop I8.

Preferably a further pair of feed roller I0, II are disposed beneath the die at the bottom of the frame I, the roller I being provided with a pulley I2 connected by a belt I3 to a pulley I4 on the end of the roller 50 whereby the lower roller I0 is driven by the upper feed roller '50. Only one of the lower rollers, viz. the roller I0 is driven, the second roller II being removable from bearing slots 11 to facilitate threading the foil 4| between the two rollers I0, II, and being held in position by the arm 15 urged by the spring I6 to bear on the surface of the roller II and to hold it close against the roller I0 to grip the foil therebetween. The rollers I0, II are preferably driven at a higher speed than the rollers 50, 5| in order to maintain the foil 4| taut between the two pairs of rollers for which purpose the pulley I4 may be made of larger diameter than the pulley I2.

The cap is formed by the die I6 and punch I9. The punch I9 comprises a central cylindrical member I00 having a removable face IOI which is embossed with the lettering which has to appear on the cap. The members I00 and IOI are secured against the base of a cup-shaped member I02, spanning an aperture I03 in the front wall 10 of the frame, by means of the threaded bolts I04, I05 respectively which project through the tubular boss I02aextending from the back of the member I02. The front edge of the member I02 carries a shear ring I06 adapted to cooperate with the outer peripheral edge of the annular member I0I of the die carried by the platen I5. to shear a disc from the foil from which the cap is'formed. Within the annular gap'deflned by the internal periphery of the shear ring I06 and the forming member I00 is arranged an annular ejector ring I08 carried by pins I09 from the annular member IIIJ slidable axially on the external surface of the stem I02a. against the action of a spring III which is held between therear surface of the member H0 and a collar ||2 screwedon to the end of the stem I02a. I r Surrounding the shear ring I0I of the die is the pressure plate II3 slidable longitudinallyon the external surface of the ring I01 and onguide rods II4 against the action of the spring II5. This pressure plate II3 bears against the face of the shear ring I06 to hold the foil 4I firmly whilst the disc from which the cap is to be formed is sheared from the foil. 1 The disc after being sheared is held in position on the cylindrical forming member I00 by means ofa pressure ring II6 slidable within the annular member I0'I against the action of the spring II8. Fitted within the pressure ring H6 and carried from the platen I5 is a pressure pad I I8 having a face I I9 of rubber or like resilient material which when the die and'punch-are closed together presses the foil into the embossed lettering in the member IOI' to mark the centre of the cap. w v 6 When the die I6 is advanced towards the punch I9, the pressure ring I I6 first bears against the cylindrical member I00 to hold the foil thereagainstand then the pressure plate II3. bears against the surface of the shear ring I06 again to grip the foil around the disc to be sheared. The member I01 then shears the disc and on being further advanced forces back the ejector ring I08 and forms the cap over the external periphery of the member I00, the pressure pad II9 finally embossing the centre of the formed cap. Upon the reverse movement of the die, the ejector ring I08 forces the cap 01f the member I00. If the cap is retained in the ring II6 it is removed by the wire finger I20 which moves across the face of the die. The finger I20 is carried at the end of the wire arm I'2I which is rotatable with the shaft I22 rotatable inthewall 1a and is urged by the spring I23 to turn the arm |2I to raise the finger I20 from between the die I6 and punch I9. The shaft I22 also carries an arm I24 which engages the arm I2 when the die isretracted to turn the shaft I22 against the action of the spring I23 and thereby move the finger I20 across the face of the die I6 and remove the formed cap adhering in the ring H6.

The walls Ia, Ib may be provided with transparent windows I25, I26 respectively through which the operation of the'die and punch may be viewed.

The caps formed between the die I6 and punch I9 and ejected during the reverse movements of the operating shaft 8 fall into a guide channel 80 along which they roll to a holder 8| between the frame I. This holder comprises a pair of side walls 02, 83 having a slot along its bottom of such a length that a segment of a cap 84 can project therebeneath. This slot is defined by a pair of pins 85. The wall 83 opposite to the side from which the bottles are fed is hinged at 89 and urged by a spring 81 into its upright position. Upon a bottle 4 being moved along the guide- Way 3 in the base 2, however, the neck thereof engages with the cap 84 projecting below the holder 8| and forces the hinged side wall 89 to move. ,Due to the inclination of the side wall 93 during its opening, the cap 84 is similarly inclined 7. 6 so that the next forward movement or the operating handle erimps the cap-on to the meme and simultaneously punches another cap which runs along the channel guide 80 to the holder '8l and is ready for fitting on to the next succeeding bottle. V

The operation of -closing a metal cap upon the neck or the bottle will be clearly understood from Figs. 4; 5 and 6. After a metal cap has been formed and applied to the neck of the bottle, as above described, the bottle is positioned beneath the cap-closing device I; Whereupon actuation of the lever 9 to form another cap causes the cap-closing device fi to be pressed upon the top of the "bottle, with the cap pcsitioned thereon, to crimp the cap to the bottle by pressing the skirt of'the cap into the groove Ba around the bottle neck. Fig. '5shows the capclosing device in an intermediate position with the cap entering the closing recess 14. The lower clamping member 21 is formed with central aperture upwardly tapered as shown so as to guide the neck of the bottle into the biosing device. This central aperture is preferably only slightly greater in diameter than the dimeter'of the cap 84 so "that the cap is guided into the closing recess '24 of the closing ring 23; the closing edge of the recess 2! being opened but to a diameter equal to, and preferably -greater than, the central aperture of the member 2:! by reason of the pressure plate 35 bulging the closing ring downwardly as shown. In this position the closing edge of the recess 24 may bear against the inner surface of the lower member 2]. Thus the bottle mouth and cap positioned thereon will always he guided into the closing recess 24. v

Upon-furtherdownward movement of the capclosing device "6, the central of the-closing ring '23 and the pressure plate 35 are held stationary by bearing upon the top of the cap, whilst the external periphery -offthe closing ring "23 continues its downward movement with the members 21 and 22. During this fur th'er move inent the spring 1GB 'is compressed and, as shown in Fig. 6, the closing edge of the recess "-24 closes inwardly and presses or "c'rimps the skirt of the cap 84 into the groove nc around the mouth of the bottle.

Upon the return movement of the lever 9, "the cap-closing device 6 is raised by the spring' fi, and the pressure plate 35 and closing r'ingffl again assume the positions shown in F-i-gfii. 'The bottle can then "be slid along the guide 3 from -beneath the cap-"closing device *6 and the next bottle, which. has received akcap as above 'described, is positioned beneath the cap-closin device. I r I The groove or .guidew'ay 3inthe base? maybe of angular form, the angle being positionedidtrectly below the cap -closing deviceifi and locating the bottles-in the'cap-closingposition.

For capping shorter 'hottlesthanthat 'fo r vvhi'ch the machine is primarily "designed, a platform may be provided'which'fitsintothe groovetrak in the base and is o'fsuch 'h'eight'that'theshorter bottles, when placed tup'onfit, will have their mouths at the correct :level for pickin' upfacap and'for sealing the cap thereon. "In'an alternative embodimentthe'fram'e only may befad-justable vertically on "the pillar l "to operate with different sizes of bottles. Y 7 w For ease of usegtheentry and 'exitendsof the groove '3'inthe base2 or. the removabrepiatform inay'have inclined portionsta'so that the ootties 8 may he slid smoothly ffromthe bench into the gr ove;

The top of the machine a cover 39 for'hinging movement about a pivot 90 on'the bracket so that the cover89 may be raised-to insert a new roll of foil l l into :the machine. The bracket 45 may also :carry a bottom casing member SI for enclosing the coil of foil.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departingfroin the scope of the invention. For example, instead of being hand-operated the machine may be adapted for power operationfiby connecting the shaftt' to be driven from an electric or other motor through a crank or other suitable mechanism to impart the back and forth motion to the shaft. r

claim: 7 i V ;1. heap-closing device of the type referred to, comprising a relatively thick disc o'f rubber-like flexible material having a recess in its undersurface, a holder supporting the periphery of said disc, means for clamping the periphery of said disc'to the holder, a movable pressure plate which is smaller than the diameter of the recess, means for supporting the movable pressure plate in axial alignment with the recess in the disc, :and means for-moving the movable pressure plate relative to said holder-to engage with the upper surface of the-disc and so urge the centre of the 'latter downwardly inorder to expand the closingedge-of me recess of the disc and thus facilitate the fittin of the recess over a cap positioned -'on'-the*mouth o'f a bottle.

'2. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure plate comprises a disc carried at' the end of a rod which is 'slidable in a stern attached "to the holder.

3."-Dev ice as claimed in cl'aim"2, comprising a spring acting on the back of the pressure plate so that -'the latter is spring-pressed downwardly and the recess in the closing disc; is normally urged toits=open position.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3, comprisingtwo annular-members, means for-crimpingthe periphery of the closing disc between two said annular members and a central aperture formed in one df said annular members in alignment with the recessintheclosingringordisc.

'5. A bottle capping machine icomprisin'g means for guiding a strip of metal foil 'betvveenapunch and a die, means for closing "the punch and die together for blanking and forming a cap *from' the stripfof metal foil, means for opening the punch and die, means for feeding the metal foil through the machine during theopening movementofthe punch and die, a reciprocating shaft for actuat ing the die opening and closing means, a driving 'for advancing the metal strip, a latchin'g device coupled to said shaft "which moves freely with respect to the wheel during the forward movement of the shaft and latches with an abutmentbefore-the punch and dieare closed, a spring for advancing theilatching device'during forward movement "of the shaft, a stop for "limiting "forward movement of the latch by the springibeycnd the position in which itis latched with the abutment, further forwardmovementof the shait to close-the punchanddiethen'taking place without further 'forward movement of th-e latch "and said latch driving the abutment "and wheel .durmett e-return movement'oftheshaft.

6. A bottle capping machine'comprisingmeans may be provided with for guiding a strip'of metal foil between a punch and a die, means for closing the punch and die together for blanking and forming a cap from the strip of metal foil, means for opening the punchand die, means forfeeding the metal foil through the machine during the opening movement of the punch and die, a reciprocating shaft for actuating the die opening and closing means, a driving wheel for advancing the metal strip, a latching device coupled to said shaft which moves freely with respect to the wheel during the forward movement of the shaft and latches with an abutment before the punch and die are closed, the latch driving the abutment and wheel during the return movement of the shaft, a holder to which the formed caps are fed and in which said caps are positioned standing edgewise in a substantially vertical position, means for passing a bottle beneath the holder causing the neck thereof to engage with the skirt of a cap and thereby force the cap forwardly against a member which hinges upwardly and causes the cap to fit over the mouth of the bottle, said member urging the cap on to the mouth of the bottle as the latter is fed therepast.

7. A bottle capping machine comprising means for guiding a strip of metal foil between a punch and a die, means for closing the punch and die together for blanking and forming a cap from the strip of metal foil, means for opening the punch anddie, means for feeding the metal foil through the machine during the opening movement of the punch and die, a reciprocating shaft for actuating the die opening and closing means, a driving wheel for advancing the metal strip, a latching device coupled to said shaft which moves freely with respect to the wheel during the forward movement of the shaft and latches with an abutment before the punch and die are closed, a spring for advancing the latching device during forward movement of the shaft, a stop for limiting forward movement of the latch by the spring beyond the position in which it is latched with the abutment, further forward movement of the shaft to close the punch and die then taking place without further forward movement of the latch, said latch driving the abutment and wheel during the return movement of the shaft, a holder to which the formed caps are fed and in which said caps are positioned standing edgewise in a substantially vertical position, means for passing a bottle beneath the holder causing the neck thereof to engage with the skirt of a cap and thereby force the cap forwardly against a member which hinges upwardly and causes the cap to fit over the mouth of the bottle, said member urging the cap on to the mouth of the bottle as the latter is fed therepast.

8. A bottle capping machine comprising means for guiding a strip of metal foil between a punch and a die, means for closing the punch and die together for blanking and forming a cap from the strip of metal foil, means for opening the punch and die, means for feeding the metal foil through the machine during the opening movement of the punch and die, a reciprocating shaft for actuating the die opening and closing means, a driving wheel for advancing the metal strip, a latching device coupled to said shaft which moves freely with respect to the wheel during the forward movement of the shaft and latches with an abutment before the punch and die are closed, a spring for advancing the latching device during forward movement of the shaft, a stop for limiting forward movement of the latch by the spring be- 10 yond the position in which it is latched with the abutment, further forward movement of the shaft to close the punch and die then taking place without further forward movement of the latch, said latch driving the abutment and wheel during the return movement of the shaft, two pairs of feed rollers for the foil arranged on opposite sides of the die and punch and coupled to the driving wheel, and means for driving the Pair of feed rollers on the outlet side at a faster rate than the feed rollers on the inlet side, whereby the foil is maintained tensioned as it passes between the punch and die.

9. Machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the driving wheel is provided with a plurality of radial grooves on one of its side faces to form the abutments into which the latch is adapted to engage.

10. A bottle capping machine comprising means for guiding a strip of; metalfoil between a punch and a die, means for closing the punch and die together for blanking and forming a cap from the strip of metal foil, means for opening the punch and die, means for feeding the metal foil through the machine during the opening movement of the punch and die, a reciprocating shaft for actuating the die opening and closing means, a driving wheel for advancing the metal strip, a latching device coupled to said shaft which moves freely with respect to the wheel during the forward movement of the shaft and latches with an abutment before the punch and die are closed, the latch driving the abutment and wheel during the return movement of the shaft, two pairs of feed rollers for the foil arranged on opposite sides of the die and punch and coupled to the driving wheel, means for driving the pair of feed rollers on the outlet side at a faster rate than the feed rollers on the inlet side, whereby the foil is maintained tensioned as it passes between the punch and die, a holder to which the formed caps are fed and in which said caps are positioned standing edgewise in a substantially vertical position, means for passing a bottle beneath the holder causing the neck thereof to engage with the skirt of a cap and thereby force the cap forwardly against a member which hinges upwardly and causes the cap to fit over the mouth of the bottle, said member urging the cap on to the mouth of the bottle as the latter is fed therepast.

11. A bottle capping machine comprising means for guiding a strip of metal foil between a punch and a die, means for closing the punch and die together for blanking and forming a cap from the strip of metal foil, means for opening the punch and die, means for feeding the metal foil through the machine during the opening movement of the punch and die, a reciprocating shaft for actuating the die opening and closing means, a driving wheel for advancing the metal strip, a latching device coupled to said shaft which moves freely with respect to the wheel during the forward movement of the shaft and latches with an abutment before the punch and die are closed, a spring for advancing the latching device during forward movement of the shaft, a stop for limiting forward movement of the latch by the spring beyond the position in which it is latched with the abutment, further forward movement of the shaft to close the punch and die then taking place without further forward movement of the latch, said latch driving the abutment and wheel during the return movement of the shaft, two pairs of feed rollers for the foil arranged on opposite sides of 11 the die and punch and coupled to thedriving wheel, means for driving the pair oftfeed rollers on the outlet side at a faster rate than the'feed rollers on the inlet side, whereby the foil. is maintained tensioned as it passes between the punch and die, a holder'to which the formed caps are fed and in which said caps are positioned standin'g edgewise in a substantially vertical position,

means for passing a bottle beneath the holder,

causing the neck thereof to engage with the skirt of'a cap and thereby force the cap forwardly against av member which hinges upwardly and causes the cap to fit over the mouth of the bottle,

said member urging the cap on to the mouth of thebottle as the latter is fed therepast.

GEOFFREY EWART FORD. I

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